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running of the bulls

Revellers celebrated the official opening of the 2017 San Fermin Fiestas in Pamplona, Spain on Thursday. The first of eight days of the running of the bulls along the streets of the old quarter of Pamplona starts Friday.

The annual Fiesta de San Fermin, made famous by the 1926 Ernest Hemingway novel ‘The Sun Also Rises,’ involves the running of the bulls through the historic heart of Pamplona, Spain. Four people were hospitalized on the first day of the daily race through the narrow, cobbled streets that form part of the northern city’s week-long festival.

Day four of the nine-day San Fermin festival took place in Pamplona, Spain. The running of the bulls were made famous in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises.” The running consists of an early morning half-mile dash from the corral to the bullring alongside six bulls destined to die in the afternoon’s bullfight. This is followed by processions of giant traditional figures, concerts, firebulls, fireworks, and large doses of eating, drinking, dancing and late nights.

The “Running of the Bulls” rose out of the growing popularity of bullfighting in western European countries like Spain and Portugal. It’s exact origin remains unknown, possibly due the hundreds of concussions and contusions reported each year since modern record-keeping of these events began in 1924.

To this day, the annual bull run in Pamplona, Spain, and the ensuing bullfights of the San Fermin festival, stand out as one of the world’s most popular. While the run itself lasts a mere 4 minutes, the fighting bulls of Pamplona have prodded their way into the pages of classic literature and onto the big screen. (See the opening scene of City Slickers.)

Due to the innate violence of bullfighting, and the captivating draw of the bull runs that proceed them, protests have increased in recent years. With demonstrations like the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ “Running of the Nudes,” each year animal rights activists organize flashy, and often gory displays to relay their messages against bullfighting.

The selections below contain barely-covered activists interspersed with violent bullfighting images from which they derive their inspiration. Be advised that this story may not be suitable for younger viewers.

Each year participants gather to celebrate the ‘Chupinazo,’ which marks the start of the San Fermin Festival in front of the Town Hall of Pamplona, northern Spain. Tens of thousands of people pack Pamplona’s streets for a drunken kick-off to Spain’s best-known fiesta. The highlight of the nine day festival is the running of the bulls where brave (or stupid depending on your point of view) festival goers dodge bulls as they run through the streets of Pamplona. To give you a sample of this spectacular event The Darkroom has added some images from last years running of the bulls along with the opening ceremony for the 2012 festival.More